The Ruparelia Foundation on Sunday provided prosthetic legs to 40 Ugandans living with limb loss during an outreach held at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, as part of activities commemorating one year since the passing of businessman Rajiv Ruparelia.
During the exercise, 20 beneficiaries were successfully fitted with prosthetic lower limbs, while another 20 people, among them four children, underwent measurements and assessments. Their prosthetic devices are expected to be ready within the next two weeks.
Speaking at the event, Jyotsna Ruparelia, mother of the late Rajiv, said the initiative was intended to celebrate his life by helping others rather than dwelling solely on loss.
She recalled that Rajiv strongly believed in sharing with those in need and said restoring mobility to people goes far beyond physical movement. According to her, it restores dignity, confidence, independence, and hope for a better future.
Jyotsna explained that the entire outreach was organized within just three weeks, thanking her family, the Suman Foundation, and staff at Mulago Hospital for working together to make the programme possible.
The Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital, Rosemary Kusaba Byanyima, said the initiative highlighted the growing demand for prosthetic services in Uganda. She revealed that while the hospital had estimated around 200 people on its waiting list, even more individuals turned up once news of the camp spread.
Dr. Byanyima added that many people in need never register for assistance because they have lost hope of ever receiving prosthetic support. She also pointed out that the hospital’s orthopaedic workshop still operates with outdated equipment and requires urgent modernization.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Charles Olaro, cited 2024 statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, showing that nearly 5.5 million Ugandans, about 13.5 percent of the population, live with disabilities requiring assistive devices.
Dr. Olaro noted that trauma, especially from road accidents, has become one of the leading causes of amputations in the country. He called for stronger efforts in both accident prevention and access to assistive care, while urging communities to end the stigma often faced by people living with disabilities.
Closing the event, Jyotsna Ruparelia delivered an emotional message in memory of her son, saying the family would continue to honour Rajiv by changing lives and supporting those in need.
She said that through every new step taken by the beneficiaries, Rajiv’s legacy continues to live on.
